Erling, Pearl E.

ERLING, TOBEY, PELHAM, HOY, MACKIN, HEIN

Posted By: carol (email)
Date: 9/14/2005 at 16:04:11

Mrs. Pearl E. Erling, 90, of DeWitt, Iowa, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at Westwing Place, DeWitt.
Mrs. Erling, the former Pearl Tobey was born Dec. 28, 1914, to parents Clair and Orie (Pelham) Tobey. As a youth, she grew up on a farm near McCausland, Iowa. Early in her life, she learned to play the piano and crochet. She helped with the farm work and was especially proud of her first job, topping onions. She once topped over a hundred bushel in a day.
Pearl raised a few eyebrows when she and Raymond Erling eloped on Aug. 19, 1932, in Macomb, Ill. They proved however that their decision was a good one, as they celebrated 57 years of marriage prior to Raymond's passing in 1989. During their full lives together, Ray and Pearl farmed at Princeton, Iowa, and Thomson, Ill., until settling on a farm near McCausland, in 1951.
Pearl was well known for baking and decorating cakes for all occasions. It had become a family tradition for Pearl to create a wedding cake for all of her children and grandchildren. Pearl and Ray traveled to many countries including Africa, Australia, Central America, South America, New Zealand, Germany, the Scandinavian countries. They also enjoyed Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands.
Pearl moved to DeWitt in 1990.
She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, DeWitt.
Surviving are her children, Erma (Hal) Hoy, Thomson, Ill., Larry (Joyce) Erling, Long Grove, Iowa, Shirley Mackin, Apache, Junction, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her parents, a sister, Ruby Hein, two brothers, Clyde Tobey and Howard Tobey, as well as two infant brothers.
Family and friends may visit at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt, from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2005. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2005, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, DeWitt. The Rev. Ginger Taylor will be officiating. Interment will be in Davenport Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to the DeWitt referral Center or the charity of the donors choice. A photo tribute may be viewed and condolences schultz funeral home.
Published in the Quad-City Times on 3/7/2005.